Improvement in centrifugal draining-machines



tluittl HIUGH W. LAFFERTY AND ROBERT LAFFERTY, OF GLOUCESTER CITY, NEW JERSEY.

Letters Patent No. 88,184, dated March 23, 1869.

IIWPROVEMENT 4IN CENTRIFUG-AL DRAININGeMACHINES.

The Schedule referred to :ln these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all 'wh-om it 'may concern hereby declare the following to be a full and exact delscription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical central sect-ion of our improved centrifugal machine, and the remaining fig- Y ures, detached sectional views;

-Figure 2, ofthe cone diction-pulley;

Figure 3, of its bearing, journal-sleeve, and oil-cup;

Figure 4, of the sleeve and bearing-cup sustaining the spindle Figure 5, of the bearing of the hollow stay-shaft against the spindle; and

Figure 6, ofa combination of the cone friction-pulley with a hanger, independently of the spindle, over the upper end thereof.

Similar letters indicate like parts in all of thcfigures. v Our invention relates, first, to improvements in the combination of cone friction-pulleys with the spindles, or driving-shafts of centrifugal draining-machines.

These improvements consist in providing a journal, or bearing-surface for the free, or band-division of the pulley, distinct from and independent of the spindle, or shaft of the machine, to which the counterpart fixed, or engaged division of the pulley is connected, or secured, for the purpose of protecting the spindle from 'wear, of reducing the friction of the pulley and belt in" its free movements, and to afford, in some cases, an additional support for Vthe shaft, or spindle.

We accomplish this, either by placing the free division ofthe pulley upon a hollow shaft, or sleeve, encircling the shaft, or spindle carrying the draining-basket of the machine, or by supporting, or securing a bearing for said free division, upon a hanger, over the end of the spindle, or shaft to which the engaged division is connected, or secured.

We also make the division of the pulley engaging' with the spindle of the machine, adjustable, to connect or disconnect the free division of the pulley carrying the driving-belt, allowing it a longitudinal movement upon the spindle, but preventing its independent revolution, by means of a key, or feather on the pulley, or on the spindle. A nd we immerse the bearings of the pulley in an oil-cup, surrounding the same.

Our invention relates, secondly, to an improved form of draining-basket, or drum, for a centrifugal drainingmachine, said basket being constructed with open sides, of woven wire.,

The spindle Aof our improved centrifugal machine may be suspended and ,supported from a suitable in any suitable manner.

hanger, B, vby means of a hollow nut, C, encircling the spindle, and secured thereto, whose projecting flange rests and works upon washers, in an annular oil-cup, D, which is placed upon the spindle, and rests upon a seat in the hanger B.

Upon the, lower end of the spindle, we secure, inthe usual manner, within a casil'lg, C, of the usual form,'an improved draining-basket, O. This basket consists of an upper' annular rim, a, and a suitable bottom plate, d, shaped in the form found in the approved drainingbaskets now in use, connected by strong woven wire, constituting the circumference, or sides of the basket. The woven wire is rolled, so that its meshes shall present an even, flat surface on both sides. It is firmly secured to its upper rim a, and to the. bottom plate d, Linings of fine woven wire, such as are employed in the draining-baskets now in use, are inserted within this wire basket, to prevent au escape of the solid particles of sugar therefrom.

- The upper end of the spindle A is made to extend upwardly, above its bearings, in its Vsupporting-cup and sleeve D, through an aperture in the hanger B', upon which it is suspended.

Upon this extended upper end of the solid spindle A, we place a sleeve, orA encircling-tube G, made to fit into the aperture in the hanger, and upon which is formed an outer annular, or encircling-cup H, Whose under side rests upon the upper surface of the hanger, and is fastened thereto, securing the sleeve in place.

The sleeve forms an extended upperv stay and bearing for the spindle, above its point of suspension, and also furnishes an independent journal-bearing for the free division N of a cone friction-pulley, M N.

The free, or loose division M, carrying the drivingbelt, is slipped down, over and upon the sleeve, or encircling-tube G.

Its lower end is extended, in the form of a neck, which projects into, and rests upon the bottom of the encircling oil-cup H, "or upon one or more annular washers w therein, upon which it freely'revolves. This cup is to be kept filled with oil, in which the washers w will thus be immersed, so that the friction of the pulley, in its independent movements, will be reduced to a minimum.

A conical seat is formed Within this loose division N, to receive the counterpart, conically-formed, upper engaged division M, of thev pulley. This upper division M is placed upon the spindle A, (see fig. 1,)-and is provided with a longitudinal feather, or projecting key s, formed upon its inner circumference, to work in a corresponding slot, or groove, upon the spindle, so that the division shall be free to slide longitudinally upon the spindle, but will engage therewith when revolving.

A groove is formed about the neck of this upper division M, to receive the forked end of a bent lever, P

by which it may be elevated or depressed. 1

By dropping the upper division M into its conical seat, in the lower free division, carrying the band, or belt, the revolution of said lowerl division will be imparted to the upper division, and' thus communicated to the spindle A of the machine. l

The bearings of the spindle A, within the encirclingtubo, or sleeve G, upon which the friction-pulley revolves, are kept lubricated by means of a self-feeding oil-cpp, R, upon the upper end of the spindle A, from which the oil passes down a groove, or channel, cut therefor, upon the outer surface of the spindle.

The spindle is stayed and supported, about midway between its point of suspension and its basket, by means of a hollow stay-shaft, K, as set forth in the patents which we have heretofore obtained for improvements in centrifugal machines.

A brake, W, operating against the lower-end ofthe spindle, below the basket O and its casing, serves to check, at pleasure, its revolution.

The application to our machines of a cone frictionpulley, M N, having an independent support, as well as an independent bearing, is illustrated in fig. 6.

The free, or band-division N of the pulley, is supported, and revolves geely, upon a shaft, Q, secured to a suitable hanger, immediately over the upper end of the spindle A. Y

The lower division M of the pulley is placed upon the upper end of the spindle, and secured by a longitudinal key, or feather, s', working in a longitudinal groove in. the spindle, which allows it to work up far v enough to engage, with its counterpart seat, in the free band-division N, but prevents its revolutions apart from orV independently of the spindle.

By elevating the lower division N up into its conical seat in the upper division M, the revolving motion of the upper division will be communicated tothe lower division, and thus imparted to'the spindle.

Having thus fully described our invention,

We claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. 'The combination of the loose band-division N of the cone friction-pulley M N, driving the spindle, or shaft A of a centrifugal machine, with a bearing and support separate and distinct from said shaft, or spindle, substantially'as herein set forth.

2. A sleeve, or hollow shaft, G or Q, interposed between the loose band-division of the coneffriction-pulley and the spindle, or shaft of a centrifugal machine driven thereby, substantially as herein set forth.

3. Ilhe combination of the loose, or band-division N ofthe cone friction-pulley M N, driving the spindle, or shaft A of a centrifugal machine, with the hai'fger supporting the spindle, by means of a sleeve, or hollow shaft interposed between the pulley and spindle, substantially as herein set forth.

4. vAn oil-cup, H, encircling the bearings of the loose, or band-division of the cone friction-pulley, substantially as herein set forth.

the spindle A of a centrifugal machine.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing improvements in centrifugal machines, we have hereunto set our hands, this 30th day of N overnber, A. D. 1868.

HUGH W. LAEFERTY. ROBERT LAFFERTY. Witnesses PETER McADAMs, J ons J. ORowELL.

5. A wire draining-basket, O, in combination with 

